Welcome to Madagascar, an extraordinary island nation celebrated for its wildlife, dramatic landscapes and rich cultural heritage. On arrival at Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo, we are warmly welcomed and transferred to our hotel. Known locally as “Tana”, the capital is built across a series of hills and offers a fascinating blend of traditional Malagasy culture and colonial influences. The remainder of the day is open to relax after our journey or begin exploring the city at our own pace.

Overnight: Palissandre Hotel & Spa, Antananarivo (1 night)

After breakfast, we depart Antananarivo and journey east toward Andasibe through Madagascar’s lush central highlands. Along the way, we enjoy views of verdant rice terraces, forested hills and traditional Merina villages nestled among the rocky landscape. As the road descends into the island’s humid eastern rainforest, the scenery becomes increasingly rich with lakes, dense vegetation and primary forest. We arrive in Andasibe around lunchtime and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure, allowing time to settle into the lodge and appreciate the peaceful surroundings. This evening, we join a guided night walk through the forest in search of Madagascar’s nocturnal wildlife. Depending on the season, we may encounter mouse lemurs, chameleons, frogs and a variety of other creatures that emerge after dark.

Overnight: Mantadia Lodge, Andasibe (2 nights) (B)

Today, we explore the beautiful Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, one of Madagascar’s most celebrated protected areas. This rainforest is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and is home to the island’s largest lemur, the indri, whose haunting calls echo through the forest canopy. Accompanied by a local guide, we follow well-maintained trails while searching for a variety of endemic wildlife, including colourful chameleons, tenrecs, geckos and numerous bird species. In the afternoon, we continue to the V.O.I.I.M.A Community Reserve, a locally managed conservation area dedicated to protecting the remaining rainforest while supporting nearby communities through sustainable reforestation initiatives. The reserve provides another excellent opportunity to observe lemurs and other native wildlife while learning about the role community conservation plays in preserving Madagascar’s unique ecosystems. (B)

Before departing Andasibe, we visit Lemur Island, a peaceful sanctuary where several rescued lemur species roam freely in a protected forest environment. The reserve offers an excellent opportunity to observe these charismatic primates at close range while learning about Madagascar’s ongoing conservation efforts to protect its unique wildlife. Afterwards, we begin the scenic drive back to Antananarivo, retracing our route through the island’s picturesque eastern highlands. On arrival in the capital, the remainder of the day is free to relax or explore independently – discover more of the city’s lively streets, visit local cafés or browse the colourful artisan markets for handcrafted souvenirs reflecting Madagascar’s diverse cultural traditions.

Overnight: Relais des Plateaux, Antananarivo (1 night) (B)

Today, we travel south through Madagascar’s scenic central highlands to the elegant town of Antsirabe. The journey passes fertile farmland, terraced rice paddies and the distinctive eroded hills known locally as lavaka, which form a striking feature of the Malagasy landscape. En route, we stop in Ambatolampy, an important agricultural centre renowned for its long-standing aluminium recycling industry, where much of the country’s cookware is still produced using traditional methods. We continue to Antsirabe, often referred to as the “City of Water” for its thermal springs and cool climate. Founded by Norwegian missionaries in the nineteenth century, Antsirabe retains a distinctive European character and is also home to Madagascar’s well-known Star Brewery, making it one of the country’s most unusual urban centres.

Overnight: Hotel Soalia, Antsirabe (1 night) (B)

Following breakfast, we continue south through Madagascar’s picturesque central highlands toward Ranomafana National Park. Along the way, we stop in Ambositra, the country’s centre of wood carving and craftsmanship. The town is renowned for the intricate carvings produced by local artisans, whose work reflects generations of Malagasy artistic tradition, and its houses are built with ornately carved wooden balconies and shutters in bright colours. As the journey continues, the landscape unfolds with terraced rice fields, eucalyptus groves, pine forests and rugged mountain scenery. Passing through the Col de Tapia, an area named for the fire-resistant tapia trees that thrive in the region, the scenery gradually transforms as we descend toward the lush rainforest of eastern Madagascar. By late afternoon, we arrive in Ranomafana, one of the island’s most celebrated national parks, known for its rich biodiversity and natural beauty.

Overnight: Centrest Sejour Hotel, Ranomafana (2 nights) (B)

Today, we explore Ranomafana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site forming part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana. Covering thousands of hectares of dense tropical rainforest, the park protects an exceptional variety of endemic plants and wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. We walk beneath towering forest canopies while searching for Madagascar’s wildlife, including the endangered golden bamboo lemur, colourful chameleons, rare bird species and other rainforest inhabitants. Well-maintained trails wind through lush valleys, alongside sparkling streams and waterfalls, offering spectacular views of this unique ecosystem. Ranomafana remains one of Madagascar’s premier wildlife destinations and one of the island’s richest centres of biodiversity. (B)

We depart Ranomafana and travel south through Madagascar’s scenic highlands to Sahambavy, home to a large commercial tea estate. We visit the plantation and factory, where the cool mountain climate creates ideal conditions for producing high-quality Malagasy tea. Continuing to Ambalavao, one of southern Madagascar’s most important market towns, we discover a region known for its strong Betsileo heritage and traditional zebu cattle trading. If our visit falls on a Wednesday, there may be an opportunity to experience the well-known zebu market, one of the country’s largest and most colourful livestock markets. Surrounded by rolling hills and dramatic mountain scenery, Ambalavao provides an ideal gateway to Madagascar’s southern landscapes.

Overnight: Betsileo Country Lodge, Ambalavao (1 night) (B)

After breakfast, we continue south toward Isalo National Park, one of Madagascar’s most spectacular natural treasures. Often referred to as the “Colorado of Madagascar”, the park is renowned for its dramatic sandstone massifs, deep canyons and striking rock formations sculpted over millions of years by wind and water. Hidden within this rugged landscape are lush oases, natural pools and pockets of vegetation that provide important habitats for a variety of wildlife. The park is home to several species of lemur, including the ring-tailed lemur and Verreaux’s sifaka, along with numerous endemic birds and reptiles adapted to the dry environment.

Overnight: Isalo Rock Lodge, Isalo (2 nights) (B)

Today, we explore Isalo National Park, a landscape unlike any other in Madagascar. We hike through spectacular sandstone formations, narrow canyons and rocky plateaus shaped by millions of years of erosion. Along the trails we find unusual plant life, including the endemic Aloe isaloensis, the distinctive elephant’s foot plant and hardy Uapaca bojeri trees. The park also holds cultural significance for the Bara people, whose ancestors traditionally used secluded caves and rock shelters as temporary burial sites. As we walk deeper into the massif, we enjoy sweeping views across colourful cliffs, lush river valleys and secluded pools while watching for ring-tailed lemurs, sifakas and the endemic birdlife that inhabits this landscape. (B)

This morning, we depart Isalo and drive toward Tuléar, stopping near Sakaraha to visit Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park. Situated between the island’s dry deciduous forests and distinctive spiny desert, this protected area supports an exceptional variety of endemic wildlife found only in this transitional ecosystem. The park is particularly well known for the critically endangered Zombitse sportive lemur and for its diversity of birdlife, making it an important conservation area for Madagascar’s flora and fauna. After our visit, we continue through the changing landscapes toward the coastal village of Ifaty, where the turquoise waters of the Mozambique Channel meet sandy beaches protected by one of Madagascar’s largest coral reef systems.

Overnight: Le Paradisier, Ifaty (2 nights) (B)

Today, we enjoy a leisure day in Ifaty, a fishing village overlooking the Mozambique Channel. With its calm waters and extensive coral reef, the area offers excellent opportunities for swimming, snorkelling and diving, while birdwatchers will appreciate the abundance of coastal species. A visit to the nearby Reniala Forest introduces one of Madagascar’s most distinctive ecosystems, where towering baobabs, spiny vegetation and fascinating reptiles – including geckos, boas and some of the world’s largest chameleons – thrive in the arid landscape. Between July and mid-September, optional whale-watching excursions provide the chance to observe migrating whales as they arrive to breed and calve in these protected waters. In the afternoon, there is the option of walking to the nearby village of Mangily for an insight into the traditional lifestyle of the Vezo fishing communities. (B)

An early morning transfer brings us to Tuléar airport for our flight back to Antananarivo. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel before a free afternoon to explore Madagascar’s capital at our own pace. There are many places to visit, including the historic Upper Town, where the restored Rova, or Queen’s Palace, overlooks the city, or we may stroll along Independence Avenue to take in the capital’s lively atmosphere, cafés and local shops.

Overnight: Palissandre Hotel & Spa, Antananarivo (1 night) (B)

After an enlightening journey traversing the cultural heritage, wildlife and scenic beauty of Madagascar, we are transferred to the airport for our departure flight. (B)